Property Tax Issues in Michigan

This is in regard to the property tax laws in: Michigan


I have several issues right now, which I do not want to get into. First, I am home owner, bought house from bank for 15k. Five acres, three bedroom, two bath. Totally run down piece of junk. I am single mom, two children. Now, unemployed, working online sales, which with the economy, sales are down.
Any how, about a year and a half ago, while employed I got a home equity loan (very small). Since I bought this house, I have yet to receive a tax bill or a mail message of when the township board meetings are. I have called the assessor, the treasurer, and the supervisor. NONE of these people have answering machines. I have went to the county building and was told I MUST go to the township meetings for this information, and also for my "homestead" property tax exemption. I am at wit's end. I finally sent the "tax" man, a letter with all the proper documentation. I have not heard anything back, nor received a tax bill in the mail, this was a year ago. I filed again with the SOM for my homestead. I did not receive it, again. This is third year now, with out it. I do not know what to do?? Am I dreaming? Do I not qualify? He also did a drive by assessment of the property back in 2007. I purchased the property in October of 2005, like I said for 15k, he appraised this place in 2007 for SEV value of 59k? Can he legally do this? I want to find this little man....What can I do? I have called the State of Michigan Treasury Department, called the Representative in my district, four times now still waiting for some answers!!!

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Quoting HOPE2

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This is in regard to the property tax laws in: Michigan


I have several issues right now, which I do not want to get into. First, I am home owner, bought house from bank for 15k. Five acres, three bedroom, two bath. Totally run down piece of junk. I am single mom, two children. Now, unemployed, working online sales, which with the economy, sales are down.
Any how, about a year and a half ago, while employed I got a home equity loan (very small). Since I bought this house, I have yet to receive a tax bill or a mail message of when the township board meetings are. I have called the assessor, the treasurer, and the supervisor. NONE of these people have answering machines. I have went to the county building and was told I MUST go to the township meetings for this information, and also for my "homestead" property tax exemption. I am at wit's end. I finally sent the "tax" man, a letter with all the proper documentation. I have not heard anything back, nor received a tax bill in the mail, this was a year ago. I filed again with the SOM for my homestead. I did not receive it, again. This is third year now, with out it. I do not know what to do?? Am I dreaming? Do I not qualify? He also did a drive by assessment of the property back in 2007. I purchased the property in October of 2005, like I said for 15k, he appraised this place in 2007 for SEV value of 59k? Can he legally do this? I want to find this little man....What can I do? I have called the State of Michigan Treasury Department, called the Representative in my district, four times now still waiting for some answers!!!

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This is very much a local question, and no one here would be of much help unless they happened to be located in your specific county.

I would suggest that you try to get ahold of a member of your township board to see if they can provide you with any advice or assistance.

While I understand that the house may be run down, the 5 acres alone probably have some significant value. Therefore a 59k value may not be out of line.

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Since I bought this house, I have yet to receive a tax bill or a mail message of when the township board meetings are. I have called the assessor, the treasurer, and the supervisor. NONE of these people have answering machines. I have went to the county building and was told I MUST go to the township meetings for this information, and also for my "homestead" property tax exemption.

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and did they tell you when the meetings are? They must be posted. I am presuming this is a very small (low resident count) township.

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I finally sent the "tax" man, a letter with all the proper documentation

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tax man?

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. I have not heard anything back, nor received a tax bill in the mail, this was a year ago.

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you might want to check if the deed transferring title has ever been registered.

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This is third year now, with out it. I do not know what to do??

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a real problem in Michigan if taxes have not been paid on a property. Michigan takes property after 1 year delinquency and sells at tax auction.

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I purchased the property in October of 2005, like I said for 15k, he appraised this place in 2007 for SEV value of 59k? Can he legally do this?

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Yes and you can legally contest it. You need to contact your township assessor for the process. (I know, you've been trying)

First thing I would do.

contact the county registrar of deeds and search for your property. I know in Berrien County, they are very helpful although they will not do everything for you.

If the property is registered in your name, while you are at the county offices, head over to the treasurers office and ask them about delinquent taxes. They will also be able to tell you who the title is registered to if you have trouble at the registrar of deeds.

So, then, you need to find out when your township meets and be there and do everything (short of getting arrested) to take care of whatever you need to once you have them in front of you.

I really hate to ask where somebody is from due to remaining anonymous and keeping things private but posting the township may help me (& otheres) to find something concerning your township.

Before you do that, look online to see if you can find your township offices yourself.

If you have not been revieving tax notices at your residence, there is a real problem. Even when the owner does not live at the property, most assessors still send a tax notice to "occupant" at the address so whomever is living there will be aware of any possible tax problems with where they live. It may even be a legal requirement but that I do not know.

I look at the CAFR reports, as stated I bought the home with cash, and was getting the taxes at the residence I originally purchased the home from (needed a lot of work) then once I moved in I changed address, not only at county,but at license bureau. After I got a home equity loan this was a given with my home address. The taxes should be coming to my home address, at least a copy. I went to plenty of meetings, just the wrong one's apparently. Voted their, etc. In a township with appx. 86 voting residence and an annual budget of :rolleyes::eek: $246,000???

I invested a lot of time and money, new drywall, sub floors, carpet, plumbing, lighting, paint, etc. The house is in decent shape now. Prior to me purchasing they were walking in with moon suits. Yes, I do have "clear" title, it is mine, I had attorney, this is a clean deal, I registered with the county. When I went for home equity loan they had to make sure of this. When buying out right with cash those things were not important to the bank but they were for me :D

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Quoting jk

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Before you do that, look online to see if you can find your township offices yourself.

If you have not been revieving tax notices at your residence, there is a real problem. Even when the owner does not live at the property, most assessors still send a tax notice to "occupant" at the address so whomever is living there will be aware of any possible tax problems with where they live. It may even be a legal requirement but that I do not know.

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OKay, I am sorry I did not make myself very clear, I did register with the county, I purchased with cash first, then got a small loan after two years, like 38k, the entire time of being property owner (since Oct. 2005) I have Never received a tax bill in the mail here at my address, the home, that I purchased. I have been to my township hall at least 10 times, and I still have not met my townshipt assessor or "tax man" as I call him, whoever he is, at this point I am very unhappy as he did a drive by appraisal. raised my SEV from 30,600 to like 47,900 in one year! :wallbang:

since you are having trouble with your township, contact the county treasurer. Delinquent taxes are turned over to them and then, after 1 year, the property is sold for delinquent taxes.

You need to call your county treasurer asap.

I would also ask them about the homestead exemption.


If you made improvements to the property, the taxes (assessment (sev) and taxable value) could be raised due to that. If there were no improvements that caused the increase, while the assessment (sev) can increase an unlimited amount, the taxable value can only increase 5% or the rate of inflation, whichever is less.



here is a good site that explains how your property taxes can change: http://mediasite.mihealth.org/medias...5-d341f0b48db8

Now, if you have never claimed (registered) this property under the homestead exemption, you are paying more in taxes than you should be as well. I do not know if this is correctable for years past. You might ask the county treasurer.
I guess now it is called; Homeowners Principal Residence Exemption

If your country treasurer refers you to the local twnshp supervisor or assessor, explain what you have here and ask for assistance in remedying your problems.

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Quoting jk

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since you are having trouble with your township, contact the county treasurer. Delinquent taxes are turned over to them and then, after 1 year, the property is sold for delinquent taxes.





here is a good site that explains how your property taxes can change: http://mediasite.mihealth.org/medias...5-d341f0b48db8

Now, if you have never claimed (registered) this property under the homestead exemption, you are paying more in taxes than you should be as well. I do not know if this is correctable for years past. You might ask the county treasurer.
I guess now it is called; Homeowners Principal Residence Exemption

If your country treasurer refers you to the local twnshp supervisor or assessor, explain what you have here and ask for assistance in remedying your problems.

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1) When I purchased home in Oct. 2005, bank transaction for cash 15k registered with county register of deeds, when I filed taxes for homestead with state of Michigan at that time, I was late, as I never received a bill in the mail, I had went to the township, called everyone I could possibly get in contact with, went up to the county building they told me I had to go to the Township Board Meeting (how do I go if I do not know when it is?) Any how, I ended up paying over $4000 in taxes for two years, as I had NO record of taxes, I filed the next two years for the homestead with SOM and was denied every year! Went up after the Home Equity Loan to make sure the BANK had registered my property and they did!!!!!

This time taxes are coming right out of the payment for the loan....

you do not have to file a homestead exemption every year. It is a one time thing and it stays that way until you change it, the house is sold, or you fail to notify it should be changed and the taxing authorities catch it.

I have NEVER seen anybody that lives in the house they are applying for exemption for denied. That is, as long as they are the owners as well as the resident. What was the justification for denial?

The only other thing I can suggest is to send a letter to the assessor. Send it certified, return receipt requested.

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Quoting jk

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you do not have to file a homestead exemption every year.
I have NEVER seen anybody that lives in the house they are applying for exemption for denied. That is, as long as they are the owners as well as the resident. What was the justification for denial?

The only other thing I can suggest is to send a letter to the assessor. Send it certified, return receipt requested.

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When you file your taxes ever year (income) there is a form to fill out with State of Michigan for the Homestead Property tax credit, because I am being charged extra on my property tax, I have my taxes done, every year it shows a credit.

Also I sent him the correct form for the Homestead via postal mail, made copies.

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Property tax credit, because I am being charged extra on my property tax, I have my taxes done, every year it shows a credit.

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Wait a minute. You said you were not getting a tax bill so how do you know you have been overcharged? How do you know what you are being charged at all?